Mohammad Omidyeganeh

Large-eddy simulation of two-dimensional dunes in a steady, unidirectional flow

We performed large-eddy simulations of the flow over a typical two-dimensional dune geometry at laboratory scale (the Reynolds number based on the average channel height and mean velocity is 18,900) using the Lagrangian dynamic eddy-viscosity subgrid-scale model. The results are validated by comparison with simulations and experiments in the literature. The flow separates at the dune crest, generating a shear layer that plays a crucial role in the transport of momentum and energy, and the generation of coherent structures. The turbulent kinetic energy budgets show the importance of the turbulent transport and mean-flow advection in the bulk flow above the shear layer. In the recirculation zone and in the attached boundary layers production and dissipation are the most important terms. Large, coherent structures of various types can be observed. Spanwise vortices are generated in the separated shear layer due to the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability; as they are advected, they undergo lateral instabilities and develop into horseshoe-like structures, are tilted downward, and finally reach the surface. The ejection that occurs between the legs of the vortex creates the upwelling and downdrafting events on the free surface known as “boils.” Near-wall turbulence, after the reattachment point, is affected by large streamwise Taylor–Görtler vortices generated on the concave part of the stoss side, which affect the distribution of the near-wall streaks.

Direct numerical simulation of the flow around an aerofoil in ramp-up motion

A detailed analysis of the flow around a NACA0020 aerofoil at Rec = 2 × 104 undergoing a ramp up motion has been carried out by means of direct numerical simulations. During the manoeuvre, the angle of attack is linearly varied in time between 0° and 20° with a constant rate of change of αrad=0.12U∞/c. When the angle of incidence has reached the final value, the lift experiences a first overshoot and then suddenly decreases towards the static stall asymptotic value. The transient instantaneous flow is dominated by the generation and detachment of the dynamic stall vortex, a large scale structure formed by the merging of smaller scales vortices generated by an instability originating at the trailing edge. New insights on the vorticity dynamics leading to the lift overshoot, lift crisis, and the damped oscillatory cycle that gradually matches the steady condition are discussed using a number of post-processing techniques. These include a detailed analysis of the flow ensemble average statistics and coheren...

Dynamics of sediment storage and release on aeolian dune slip faces: A field study in Jericoacoara, Brazil

Sediment transport on the lee sides of aeolian dunes involves a combination of grain-fall deposition on the upper portion of the slip face until a critical angle is exceeded, transport of a portion of those sediments down the slip face by grain flows and, finally, deposition at an angle of repose. We measured the mean critical and repose angles and the rate of slip-face avalanching using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) on two barchans of different size in Jericoacoara, Brazil. Wind speeds and sand fluxes were measured simultaneously at the dune crests. We found that the mean critical and repose angles decrease with increasing wind speed. We attribute this to turbulent shear stresses, the magnitude of which are predicted using 3D Large-Eddy Simulation (LES) modeling, that episodically act down the slip face (i.e. in the direction of gravity) to trigger grain flows at lower angles than with gravity stresses alone. The rate of avalanching is a maximum in the morning at our study site and coincides with the maximum rate of increase in wind speed and not with the maximum rate of sediment supply to the slip face. We developed and tested a new predictive model for the rate of avalanching that includes both sediment flux delivered to the slip face and the derivative of the critical angle with time. Our data also suggest that the mean critical angle varies inversely with slip-face height. These results have important implications for aeolian dune evolution, interpretations of aeolian stratigraphy, and granular mechanics.

Passive control of the flow around unsteady aerofoils using a self-activated deployable flap

ABSTRACT Self-activated feathers are used by many birds to adapt their wing characteristics to the sudden change of flight incidence angle. In particular, dorsal feathers are believed to pop-up as a consequence of unsteady flow separation and to interact with the flow to palliate the sudden stall breakdown typical of dynamic stall. Inspired by the adaptive character of birds feathers, some authors have envisaged the potential benefits of using of flexible flaps mounted on aerodynamic surfaces to counteract the negative aerodynamic effects associated with dynamic stall. This contribution explores more in depth the physical mechanisms that play a role in the modification of the unsteady flow field generated by a NACA0020 aerofoil equipped with an elastically mounted flap undergoing a specific ramp-up manoeuvre. We discuss the design of flaps that limit the severity of the dynamic stall breakdown by increasing the value of the lift overshoot also smoothing its abrupt decay in time. A detailed analysis on the modification of the turbulent and unsteady vorticity field due to the flap flow interaction during the ramp-up motion is also provided to explain the more benign aerodynamic response obtained when the flap is in use.

Coherent Structures in the Flow over Two-Dimensional Dunes

The fluid flow over rough sand beds in rivers has unique dynamics compared with the flows that occur when the bed is flat. Depending on the flow Reynolds number, the most commonly found river-bed formations are ripples and dunes. Ripples have dimensions much smaller than the river depth, while dunes may reach heights of the order of the depth. Ripples do not affect the dynamics of the whole flow depth whereas dunes influence on the turbulent flow as well as the sediment transport at the whole depth. Dune formation may affect navigation, erosion of bridge piles and other structures, as well as dispersion of contaminants (Itakura and Kishi, 1980).

Numerical Simulation of a Passive Control of the Flow Around an Aerofoil Using a Flexible, Self Adaptive Flaplet

Self-activated feathers are used by almost all birds to adapt their wing characteristics to delay stall or to moderate its adverse effects (e.g., during landing or sudden increase in angle of attack due to gusts). Some of the feathers are believed to pop up as a consequence of flow separation and to interact with the flow and produce beneficial modifications of the unsteady vorticity field. The use of self adaptive flaplets in aircrafts, inspired by birds feathers, requires the understanding of the physical mechanisms leading to the mentioned aerodynamic benefits and the determination of the characteristics of optimal flaps including their size, positioning and ideal fabrication material. In this framework, this numerical study is divided in two parts. Firstly, in a simplified scenario, we determine the main characteristics that render a flap mounted on an aerofoil at high angle of attack able to deliver increased lift and improved aerodynamic efficiency, by varying its length, position and its natural frequency. Later on, a detailed direct numerical simulation analysis is used to understand the origin of the aerodynamic benefits introduced by the flaplet movement induced by the interaction with the flow field. The parametric study that has been carried out, reveals that an optimal flap can deliver a mean lift increase of about 20% on a NACA0020 aerofoil at an incidence of 20o degrees. The results obtained from the direct numerical simulation of the flow field around the aerofoil equipped with the optimal flap at a chord Reynolds number of 2 × 104 shows that the flaplet movement is mainly induced by a cyclic passage of a large recirculation bubble on the aerofoil suction side. In turns, when the flap is pushed downward, the induced plane jet displaces the trailing edge vortices further downstream, away from the wing, moderating the downforce generated by those vortices and regularising the shedding cycle that appears to be much more organised when the optimal flaplet configuration is selected.